Ann Rosenthal
Friday, September 4, 2015
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Friday, August 28, 2015
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Voters Should Vote
Iowa’s
educational system is at the center of many battles because of the amount of
time and money invested, and because our future depends upon it. Despite this, it’s hard for educational
issues to hold voters’ attention long enough for them to vote in school board
elections. It is difficult to find
common ground among competing political parties. And, it is nearly impossible to realize the
oft-quoted mantra of “local control” of education—Iowa state law dictates a
large part of school governance under a judicial ruling known as “Dillon’s Rule,”
whereas cities and counties operate under “Home Rule.”
To
effectively address the challenges our society faces, we need to think
long-term about our educational system.
We must have positive and innovative solutions that encourage students
to become both competent in basic skills and prepared to embrace and succeed in
the challenges of the future.
During my
time as a volunteer on the Board I have challenged the status quo in ways that
could increase student achievement, reduce long-term facility costs, and
provide educational excellence in a fiscally responsible manner. Most importantly, I have demonstrated by
personal example, written about, and encouraged parental involvement at every
level. I have encouraged statewide
school officials to resist calls for uniform standards that would interfere
with local districts setting goals that would, and should, far exceed those
standards. Within weeks of winning a
seat on the Board in 1999 I testified in Des Moines before a legislative
committee on how to save hundreds of millions of dollars through energy
conservation contracting. I have
appeared repeatedly as a guest on statewide and local radio advocating for energy
conservation contracting and for greater local control.
I have
consistently voted in school board elections for over 20 years, unlike the
challengers in this election who have never voted in an Iowa school board
election. I have been involved in the
schools; our five children attended six of the schools in the District. My graduate degree and work experience—31 years
in engineering design, construction, and maintenance—have provided valuable
expertise to the Board. I have tried to
ask good questions before and during meetings and to be collaborative, looking
for win-win solutions. I have tried to
look at issues from various perspectives and to express myself succinctly and
thoughtfully. I humbly ask for your vote
on September 8th.
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